Scrabster weathering the storm

Scrabster port operators are continuing to weather the ongoing downturn in the white fish industry.

While some other harbours are suffering badly as a result of the cutback in trawler activities, the principal north coast port is faring well.

Scrabster's turnover for 2006/07 was just under £2.5 million - 12 per cent up on the previous year.

The record trade was matched by an operating surplus of just over £1 million - compared to £673,000 last year.

The pre-tax profit was achieved thanks to the 13 per cent fall in fishing revenues being more than offset by increased income from ferry, oil supply and fish cargo movements. The new gains enabled the trust to eliminate its bank overdraft.

Scrabster Harbour Trust also has accumulated £2 million of working capital to help finance its recently unveiled major development plans.

Chairman Willie Calder said the financial picture is bright as the trust embarks on the latest wave of expansion at the port.

Presenting his annual report, he said: "Once again, the year has been a profitable and extremely busy period for Scrabster harbour."

He said the gross registered tonnage through the port for the year up to the end of March was 9.4 million tonnes.

The current year's total is on course to be higher, with the totals for July and August each exceeding a million tonnes.

Mr Calder said Scrabster's tonnage is about 40 per cent of that of Aberdeen, which is one of Scotland's largest and busiest harbours.

He said the mix of activity at Scrabster continues to change, "Fishing continues to be a large part of Scrabster's business although the decommissioning programme and quota cuts have seen a dramatic downturn of fish landings," he explained.

Last year's fall followed on a whopping 26 per cent reduction the previous year.

Mr Calder, who runs a fish-selling business at Scrabster, said there is hope for the future of the industry.

He stated: "Indications from the current year are that the position has stabilised. The trust looks forward to discussion with the new Scottish Government on measures to support the fishing sector.

"We will also work with interested agencies to explore innovative measures that could re-energise the industry."

Mr Calder said the overall financial performance showed that the trust's drive to diversify activities is paying dividends. He said: "This puts the trust in a strong position to progress essential and urgent works and lever additional funding to progress our major developments."

Last month, it outlined plans to build a £15 million deep-water quay to create a modern supply base for the offshore and renewable industries. This is to be preceded by a seven-figure investment to modernise the existing oil tanker quay.

Mr Calder revealed that the trust is gearing up to start work on the latter in the next financial year.

The trust's coffers have been helped by a £2.1 million boost from the Scottish Executive relating to the development of the Queen Elizabeth Pier.

The resolution of a long-running dispute with the main pier contractors has also freed up resources to carry out new harbour works and finance further marketing initiatives.

Over the course of the year, 147,099 passengers, 43,886 cars and 5811 commercial vehicles were carried on NorthLink's ferry service to Orkney. A further 6000 passengers used Scrabster this summer on the new service run by operators of the North Atlantic ferry Norröna, Smyril Line.

The number of oil vessels which used the port rose from 100 to 138 while seven cruise ships visited.